Panoramic camera.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW

OF NEW YORK.

PANORAMIQ CAMERA.

YORK, A CORPORATION SBECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 699,161, dated May 6, 1902-.

Application filed November 7, 1899. Serial No. 736,103. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FoRsHEIM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 0am eras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cameras, and more particularly to that class known as panoramic cameras.

The object of my invention is to produce a panoramic camera in which means are provided for placing the lens and its holder under tension, tending to swing it in either of two opposite directions to make an exposure.

A further object is to provide a simple actuating device for carrying out the above ob-' ject, whereby a single spring may be set for throwing the lens and its holder in both directions.

A still further object is to provide means for temporarily locking the lens-holder at the limits of its swinging movement, a single tension-spring, and a single operating device for setting the spring and releasing the lensholder.

A' practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a top plan View of the camera. Fig, 2 represents a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view takenin the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig.- 4 is avertical sectional view taken in the plane of the line 4 4: of Fig. 3. View showing the lens-holder-operating device in the position which it assumes after, setting the spring and when about'to release,

the locking device. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the locking device has been released and the is a fragmentary view of one corner of the bottom of the came1*abox,showingthe groove Fig. 5 is'a detail therein for the reception of the bottom of the film spool. Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the said groove; and Fig. 11 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the lens,

gaining access to the interior of the camerabox, in the present instance by having a sliding engagement with the sides a a The front a of the camera-box is provided with a rectangular opening which is closed by means of a flexible curtain B, which curtain prevents the access of light to the interior of the camera-box.

The lens-holder is denoted by G and its lens by c. The lens-holder isprovided with a light-confining tube 0', having its open end to the rear of the lens developed to form a yertically-elongated narrow slit cithrough which the light is projected from the lens onto the film or sensitized surface. The lens-holder is carried by a vertically-arranged shaft or axle 0 the lower end of which is mounted in suitable bearings in a bottom marginal guide D, located adjacent to the bottom a of the camera-box and the upper portion of the said vertical shaft 0 is mounted in suitable bearings in a top marginal guide D, located adjacent to the top a of the camera-box.

The front end of the lens-holder O projects through the flexible curtain B, the said ourtain being fulled to such an extent as to permitthelehs-holder and its light-confining tube to swing from one position substantially parallel with thefront of the camera-box to ,its other position, substantially parallel with the front of the box, without disturbing the attachment of the curtain to the said box front.

The rear edges of the marginal guides D D are curved in an arc with the axis of the lensholder as a center. be drawn around the said curved edges of the guides from a film-spool e, loosely mounted on a vertical axle-pin c to a winding-spool e fixed to rotate with an axle-pin a The axle-pin e is fixed at its upper end in the top of the camera-box and itsbottom end is fitted A film E is arranged to to enter an open-ended groove a extended inwardly on the upper surface of the bottom a of the box at its forward end. The axlepin 6 is mounted to rotate in the top a of the box, and it is provided exterior to the box with the usual Winding-handle c". The lower end of the winding-pin c is fitted to enter an open-ended groove a, similar to the groove a in the removable bottom a of the box. By this arrangement the spools e 6 may be readily inserted or removed from the camerabox by sliding the bottom of the box a short distance to the rear suiiieicnt to release the free ends of the pins 6 e from their engagement with the grooves a a.

The upper marginal guide I) may be permanently secured to the top of the camera box, and the lower marginal guide is rigidly spaced from and secured to the top marginal guide by means of vertical pillars F F, extending between the said guides at their forward edges adjacent to the front of the camera-box.

Vestibules for protecting the slit 0 in the light-confining tube are formed by providing the rear edges of the vertical pillars F F with flexible flaps ff, projecting a sufficient distance inwardly to intercept the path traversed by the inner end of the light-confining tube as it is swung from one position to the other. The sensitized surface is thus exposed from the time the light-confining tube leaves one of the vestibules until it enters the opposite vestibule.

The means which I employ for swinging the lens and its holder in eitherof two opposite directions for making an exposureis constructed and arranged as follows: A stub axle G is mounted to rotate in the top CL of the camera-box, which axle projects a slight distance into the interior of the box and a sufficient distance above the top of the box to permit an operating-handle g to be attached theretoi A lens-holder-operating disk II is loosely mounted upon the stub-axle G, which disk has a pin and slot connection with the lens-holder in the present instance by providing the light-confining tube a with a pin 7b, which is adapted to travel along in a radial groove 7t in an outwardly-projecting arm 7L2 of the disk G. A short coil-spring I is secured at one end to the disk H a short distance out upon the arm 72?, the other end of the spring being attached to a flexible connection z'secured to the stub-axle G in position to be wound around the same as the axle is rotated. This rotary action of the stubaxle serves to extend the spring I, and thereby set it under tension tending to swing the disk, and thereby the lens-holder.

The device which I employ for temporarily locking theholder at the limits of its swinging movement comprises a plate-spring J, having a notch j therein in position to engage one or the other of a pair of teeth 7L3 h, projecting from the periphery of the disk II. The spring J is depressed in the following manner for releasing the operating-disk II after the stubaxle G has been rotated a sufficient distance to impart a sufficient tension to the spring I to swing the disk H, and thereby the lens-holder, over into its other position: A spring-releasing arm K is loosely mounted upon the stubaxle G, with its free end in engagement with the spring J. This arm K is provided with a pin 70, located in position to be engaged by a tripping'arm g, fixed to the axle G in such position as to cause it to engage the pin 7; and swing the arm K a sufficient distance to cause it to depress the spring J and then permit the spring to return to its normal position ready to again lock the disk at the limit of its other movement as the rotation of the axle G is completed. A pin g uprises from the top of the box in position to engage the handle g to limit the movement of the axle G to a single rotation in either direction.

Supposing the film to be drawn into position around the marginal guides as to present its sensitized surface along its concave face, the operation of the device is as follows: The handle 9 at the top of the camera is turned a complete revolution. The first portion of the movement will extend the spring I because of the winding of the flexible connection t' around the axle G, and the last part of the movement of the handle will cause the trippingarm g" to engage the spring-releasing arm K and cause the arm to engage the spring J and release the disk II. The swinging movement of the disk H,caused by the tension of the spring I, will, through its pin-and-slot connection with the holder 0, swing the holderfrom one position through an are around to its other position and lock it there. At the same time the objects to be photographed are projected upon the sensitized surface of the film through the lightconfining tube 0. The parts are then in a position to make another-exposure by a reverse movement of the handle g.

The pin-and-slot connection between the operating-disk II and the lens-holder serves to cause the 1ensholder to swing at a uniform speed during its entire swinging movement, even though the tension of the spring I is decreased, because as the tension of the spring decreases the pin carried by the holder is brought nearer to the axis of the disk II along the slot 7t.

It is evident that changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangementof the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

That I claim is-- 1. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder and means for placing the holder under tension tending to swing it in either of two opposite directions to make an exposure, substantially as set forth.

2. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder provided with a light-confining tube, and a single operating device for swinging the lens-holder in either of two opposite directions to make an exposure, substantially as set forth.

3. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder provided with a light-confining tube, a tension-spring arranged to swing the lens holder in opposite directions and means for setting the spring, substantially as set forth.

4. In a panoramic camera, a lens and itsholder provided with a light-confining tube, means for swinging the lens-holder in opposite directions and a locking device under the control of the lens-lrolder-swinging means for temporarily locking the lens-holder at the limits of its swinging movement, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a panoramic camera, a lens and itsholder provided with alight-confining tube, a spring for swinging the holder in opposite directions, means for temporarily locking the lens-holder at the limits of its swinging movement and a device for imparting tension to the spring and releasing the lens-holder, substantially as set forth.

6. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder, an operating-disk having a pin-andslot engagement therewith, a tension-spring,- a device for temporarily locking the said disk and means forimparting tension to the said spring tending to swing the holder and for releasing the disk and thereby the holder,- substantially as set forth.

7; Ina panoramic camera, a lens and its holder mounted to swing, a stub-axle, a rotary disk carried thereby having a radial elongated slot therein, a'pin carried by the holder in engagement with the said slot-and a tensionspring engaged with the disk and the axle whereby rotary movement of the axle will impart a tension to the spring to swing the disk and thereby the holder, substantially as setforth.

8. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder mountedto swing, a stub-axle, a holder operating disk-carried thereby, a spring for locking the disk and means for releasing the spring comprising an arm loosely carried by the said axle and-a tripping-arm fixed to the axle in position to operate'the first-named arm as the axle is rotated,substantially as set forth.

9. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder mounted to swing, a stub-axle, aholderoperating disk mounted thereon, a tensionspring'se'cured to said disk and having a flexible connection with the said axle whereby, as the axle is rotated, in either direction, the spring will tend to rotate the disk and thereby the holder in a corresponding direction, substantially as set forth.

10. In a panoramic camera, a lens and its holder providedwith a light-confining tube, means for swinging the holder and tube in op= A posite directions and vestibules for closing the inner end of the tube at the limitsofits swinging movement comprising flexible flaps projectinginto the path of the swinging movement of the tube, substantially as set forth.

11. In a panoramic camera, a camera-box having a removable bottom, top and bottom marginal guides secured within the box independently of the said bottom, and axle-pins for receiving the film-spools having their free ends removably engaged in the said bottom, substantially as set forth.

12. In a panoramic camera, a, lens and its holder mounted to swing, a stub-axle, a holder operating disk carried thereby, a spring for locking the disk and means for engaging the spring to release the disk and permit the spring to again return to its locking position,

substantially as set forth.

.13. In a panoramic camera, a lens, a lightdirecting chamber pivoted to swing together with the lens in opposite directions and means for swinging the said light-directing chamber and lens to make an exposure during the swinging movement in each ofthe two opposite directlons, substantially as set forth.

14; In a panoramic camera, a lens, and light directing chamber pivotally mounted to swingtogether in opposite directions, means for swinging-the lens and light-directing chamber to effect an exposure during the opposite swinging movements, and means for automaticallylocking the lens and light-directing chamber at both ends of each swinging move ment, substantially as set forth.

15. In a panoramic camera, the combination Ioo with film-holding devices embodying curved film-guides,- and a pivoted oscillatory tube, of a reversible spring-motor for actuating the tube in opposite directions alternately, and a Y catch for retaining and releasingthe tube;

16. In a panoramic camera, the combination with film-holding devices embodyinglcurved film-supports, and film chambers at the ends, of a pivoted oscillatory tube, one end of which is movable over the film-guides and into line with the closed sides of the film-chambers, a reversible spring-motor for actuating the tube in opposite directions alternately, and'a catch for retaining and releasing the tube.

17. In a panoramic camera, the combination with curved film-guides, the film-chambers at the ends, and the flaps on theinner sides of the walls of the chambers, of the pivoted oscillatory tube, one end of which ismovableover the film-guides and beyondtheflaps, a reversible spring-motor for actuating the tube in opposite directions alternately, and a catch for retaining and releasing the tube.

18. In a panoramic camera the combination with'a suitable case having a curved film-support and a swinging lens-holder adapted to turn on an axis concentric with said'film-sup- 13o holder alternately in opposite directions and port, of mechanism adapted to turn-said lenscomprising an actuating-spring, means for straining said spring and resetting said meehence of two Witnesses, this 28th day of Octoanism after each exposure for the next exber, 1899.

osure and means for manual] releasing 1 V y 7 said mechanism, substantially as ind for the JOSEPH FORSHEIM' purposes set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as FREDK. HAYNES, my invention Ihave signed my name, in pres- O. S. SUNDGREN. 

